Printcraft: convert your Minecraft creations into STL 3D model files

Paul Harter showed up at the recent 3D Print Show London 2012 event with his family and Printcraft, a online world that lets Minecraft players convert their Minecraft creations into stl for 3D printing.

"Printcraft started as a project with my children.

I have a share in a Thing-O-Matic 3D printer and they wanted to build things to print on it, but most CAD applications are quite hard to learn at eleven or eight years old. However they are both adept at Minecraft. So I wrote a script to create printable 3D models from within Minecraft. It worked well so I have put it online in an easy to use web service. Several groups around the world now regularly use Printcraft to build and play."

Printcraft acts as a server that players from anywhere can access and even work together. The process is pretty simple, first you need a Minecraft account, then:

Log in to Minecraft and go to 46.38.166.50

Build with sand inside the building

Add a signpost with your email

Press PRINT and you will be sent a .stl file of your model

The STL 3D model file can be printed on most 3D printers. The PrintCraft is a free service, if your kids love Minecraft, this is definitely a great way to get them modeling and printing.